A study on the prediction of kerf angle in abrasive waterjet machining of rocks

Abstract

In this study, the effects of the abrasive waterjet operating variables on the kerf angle were studied and the material properties were correlated with the kerf angle. The Taguchi method was followed to conduct the experimentation and the regression modeling was used in order to build models for prediction of dependent (kerf angle) from independent (operating and material properties) variables. Additionally, the adequacy of the model was tested using several statistical tests. The results indicated that not only operating variables themselves, but also the textural and mineralogical properties had discernible effects on the kerf angles. It was found from the correlation analysis that the water absorption, max grain size of rock-forming minerals and mean grain size of the rock had significant influences on the kerf angles of the rocks tested. Furthermore, it was determined that the kerf angles can be predicted by the developed models related to the rock types.